Nevada County picayune., 1887-10-06
paddle, for all depends on that"

that it was now a case of life and death, and with his wife and only ct'ild depending upon his exertions, 1t need not be said that every par ticle of strength and skill that he possessed were needed and put in, to use.
 1 Every moment or two the In. dians uttered one of their frightful yells-so frightful indeed that the little girl began crying through terror. However, I persuaded her to lie down in the boat, and her mother soon soothed her fears although she still shivered every time the fearful sound reached her ears.
 My great fear was that the In. dians would fire at Us, which would be pretty certain to result fatally as we were within easy gunshot distance. But they evidently con. sidered this unnecessary, as it looked as thongh we must inevita- bly fall into their hands.
 Despite the utmost exertiOns of Green, the savages gained steadily upon us-a fact which was appar- to them as to us, and which their repeated yells were intended to signatiZe.
 When we embarked in our ca noe 1 don't think either of us thought of the rapids below. We startedin such haste that we had little time to think of anything ex- cept as to how we could get away as speedily as possible. But when the roar began to rise in oar ears, my friend looked inquiringly at me. nodded my head.
 "The best thing that could be tor us."
 I offered to take the paddle sev- eral times, but he was not willing. The changing of places would in. volve a moment or two of delay, and there was no time for that. However, as we approached the rapids, l could see that he was little uneasy, and he made no Ob. jecton to my taking the paddle in hand. , Our hopes now centered upon the inability of our enemies to guide their craft through these rapids. There was no question but that the Indiaus could manage their canoe with skill equal, if not superior, to that with which we controlled ours; but in going through this dangerous place there were perils which might easily shipwreck the most skillful of their number, as many of them were hidden. ,
 Before l attempted to shoot these rapids, l had spent several hours in surveying them from the shore, proceeding which, am we'll satisfied, proved my salvation in the exploit afterwards perform. ed.
 steered straight for the rapids. As we neared them, the roar be. came deafening, the mist filled the air, aud the sight of the plunging, |, flashing waters was so appalling that Mrs. Green covered her face to shut out the dreadful sight, aud the father was compelled to grasp his shrieking little girl, who was talrly wild at the sight.
 The canoe danced and spun around like an eggshell, and the blinding mist so covered us, and the foaming waters so surrounded us, that more than once 1 feared 1t was all oyer with us; but ] guided the canoe with all the cOOlness l could summon, and, thanks to Providence, we shortly reached the calmer water below.
 "Dare they follow us?" inquired Green.
 "Yes; it's too late to retreat"
 The Indian canoe was at this time close on to the rapids, and, anxiOusly watching their move. uents, saw the occupants stop using their paddles, while one of their number took his position in the stern.
 "rhat looks as though he under. stood it," l remarked, as l ceased padding.
 So itproved. The savage soon demonstrated that he had been through this channel before. He followed precisely the course l had taken, and which was the on. lv one that offered the least chance